A/N: As usual thank you to all those who reviewed. Don't worry Abhi aur nai tadpega n Salunkhe sir will come around again. Hope you like this chapter.
Warning : Its one terrible chap I ever wrote.
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CHAPTER SIX: Dreams come true
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Contd. From prev chap:
Tarika: Sir.. sir please usse waapis bulaayiye!
Salunkhe: Tarika, beta relax. Sab tik hojayega. Aisa rothe nai hai. Himmat rakho.
Tarika: Sir.. na jaane kyu aisa lagraha hai jaise woh woh mujhse bohot door jaara hai. Please use bulaayiye na..
Salunkhe: tum sirf apni present k bare mein soch rahi ho bacchi. Par main tumhari future k bare mein soch raha hu. Just trust me. Sab kuch tik hojayega..
He feels bad seeing her cry.
Salunkhe : Usse milne jaaogi?
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Meanwhile, Abhijeet is leaving cursing himself. How could Salunkhe sir just throw him out of the house? Tarika is not a teenage girl nor is he a spoilt brat who would take advantage of her innocence. If they wanted to spend some quality time together, it's not any wrong. Finally he has managed to confess his feelings after six long years and there Salunkhe pops in pointing a finger at him for not going public. Of course he would love to hold her hand in public, be with her always but… He sighs. Isn't it obvious? Everyone in the bureau knew he likes her. Then what did Salunke sir mean by uska haat nai pakar sakte? Of course he can hold her hand, scream out loud he loves her. He kicks his car in frustration. He then begins to drive, his mind subconsciously recalling a particular memory involving him, his car and her.
Flash back:
About a month ago, Abhijeet was in forensic lab happily chatting with her as Salunkhe sir left early.
Abhi: Kya Tarika ji.. ab itni raat ko kya kaam karna. Ghar chaliye na..
Tarika: Abhijeet mujhe mera kam karne do.
Abhi: Der raat hogai. Aur kya kaam rehgaya, hein? Case solve hogai aur Salunkhe sir bhi ghar jaa chuke hai na..
Tarika, placing her test tube aside: kyu main der raat tal kaam nai karsakti? Sirf aap log kaam kar sakte hai?
Abhi: Nai nai.. maine aisa kab kaha hai.. aap baaki ka kaam kal bhi kar sakti hai na.
Tarika: Kal kyu? Accha aap ka kaam kaam hua aur mera kaam kaam nai hmm?
Abhi: Nahi nahi yeh sab maine kaha kab tha?
Tarika, showing mock anger: kehnewale the hai na?
Abhi: Arey yar humesha galat kyu samjhti hai aap. Main sirf yeh kehna chahta hu ki.. aaj mausam suhaana hai, mauka bhi accha hai. Main aapko ghar chor sakta hu.. aur saat mein kuch baatein bhi hongi. Kya khayal hai?
Tarika, feeling sad: Sorry Abhijeet. Salunkhe sir ne joh kaam diya use puraa karna hoga na mujhe.
Abhi: Aap ko ghar nahi chalna?
Tarika, resuming her work : Nahi.. ek do ghante aur lagenge.
Abhi: Aap ko mere saat chalna hi hoga.
Abhi whines like a kid and she smiles adoring his expressions.
Tarika : Abhijeet. Mujhe kaam pura karne doge plz?
Abhi: Kaisa kaam Tarika ji? Sab log nikal chuke hai. Sirf aap aur main bache hai. Chaliye ghar chalte hai. jab tak aap haan nahi kahogi, main yaha se nahi hilne wala.
Tarika: tik hai kahi mat jaao yahi ruko. Mujhe kya?
Abhi, flirt tone: hmm.. are you sure aap ko koi problem nahi hogi? Mera matlab, iss puri building mein sirf aap aur main akele.. aur mera dil ka kya bharosa?
She shakes her head smiling n gives a look. Fir shuru hogaye?
Abhi: Aapko darr nahi lagta?
Tarika: Kisse?
Abhi: Mujhse.. aur kisse?
Tarika, laughing: Main kya mujhrim hu jo dar lagega mujhe ? aur tumhe main kab se jaanti hu. Fir kaisi problem?
Abhi: achha, bohot bharosa hai aap ko mujhpe, hein?
Tarika: Haan hai. Ab hato saamne se..
She walks past him towards her desk but he grabs her hand and begins to sing.
Abhi: socho kabhi aisa ho toh kya ho? Hum tum.. ek kamre mein band ho..
She laughs and pulls her hand out of his grip.
Tarika, singing: aur Salunkhe sir aajaye..
Abhi: Lyrics kyu change karliya? Yeh toh cheating hai. Aur baar baar Salunkhe sir ka naam kyu le rahi hai? Main kya dar jaunga unse?
Tarika, laughing: Mujhe lagaa darte hoge! Pehle bolo, Achanak gaane ka mood kaise agaya?
Abhi: Main singer toh nahi.. magar eh haseen. Dekha joh tumko shayerii bhi aagayi.
Tarika: Ab shayer bhi bangaye. Wah Kya baat hai?
Abhi: Haan woh bas suhana mausam hai, saat mein aap hai.
Tarika just smiles. Abhi begins to sing another song.
Yeh raat yeh chandni fir kahaa.. sunn jaa dil ki dastaan..
Tarika, pleading: Jaao yaha se, mujhe bohot kaam hai. Salunkhe sir k daant nai sunna hai mujhe. Please jaao na. mujhe disturb mat karo.
He insists n she drags him out holding his hand.
Abhi: Arey main bas company de raha tha aur yeh kya mujhe bahar bhej rahi hai? Very bad huh..
Tarika: tum yaha rahoge toh mera kaam subah tak bhi pura nai hoga. Just go. Ghar jao aur aaram karo.. tum thak gaye hoge na?
Abhi: Nahi main thaka hua nahi hu. Main aapko bilkul disturb nai karunga.. main ruk jaun?
Tarika, sighing: Nahi..
He gives up and leaves waving her a small bye.
Two hours later, a panicked Tarika walks out of the bureau and smacks her head as she remembers she has not brought her car that morning. 11 PM? She bites her nails looking around. How did she spend so much time performing various tests in lab? Abhijeet was right; she should have listened to him. But naah she had to go and pose like a workaholic. Her eyes scan the place and a smile replaces her smirk.
Tarika: yeh toh Abhijeet ki gaadi hai..
She takes a few steps and peeps in through his car window. Her smile widens as she finds him sitting in driver's seat, his eyes closed as if he's sleeping. She reaches out to touch his hair lovingly when he opens his eyes. He gets down and faces her with a smile. She looks away embarrassed.
Abhi: aagayi madam? Kitni der lagaadi aapne?
Tarika: woh bas.. waqt ka khayal hi nahi aaya. tum sogaye?
Abhi: Nahi bas.. aankhon mein jalan horahi thi. Toh..
Tarika, concerned: tumhe neend ki zarurat hai. Aur tum yahi itni der tak .. mereliye?
Abhi, smiling: Kya Tarika ji.. Aap hi boliye, ab itni raat ko aapko akela chor k main kaise jaata, huh?
She smiles real big and says thank you. She has forced him out of the lab but here he is spending two long boring hours alone in his car just for her.
Overwhelmed she laughs, tears form in her eyes and she does something he doesn't expect. She hugs him real tight, thanking him again.
Tarika: tum nai ho toh main.. thank you Abhijeet.
Abhi, hesitating to hug her: thanks kisliye ji?
He hugs her back. After a few seconds, she lets go of him. He distances himself from her and jokes trying to ease the situation.
Abhi: Jaldi chaliye na, warna Daya mereliye jo khaana bacha k rakha hoga woh bhi khaalega.
Tarika, smiles: Daya sir tumhare wait karre the?
He drops her off, enjoying the ride, sharing small smiles, occasionally stealing glances at her.
. . End of flash back . .
He pushes the brake suddenly snapping back to present and heaves a sigh of relief, thanking god for the near save. Distraction for one more second would have led to an accident.
Reaching his home, he pushes open the door to his room and collapses on his arm chair.
To be honest, he doesn't know if he can hold her hand, give her all happiness she deserves. He tearfully remembers the lab incident and how Salunkhe sir asked him to leave.
Karo Pyar.. Ghusaro waqt. Chori chupi karne ki kya zarrurat? Sab k saamne uskaa haat nai pakar sakte?
Of course Salunkhe sir is right. He is a coward, one who can't hold her hand before everyone. But how could he just go and assure her a life full of happiness when he himself is not sure how could handle the responsibilities coming along. He has never been in a relation. He lost his mother long ago, lost his memory and he couldn't just trust himself as a capable being who could have a family or let alone be a perfect husband. He calls up Daya. He can't think of calling Tarika because that will probably hurt her more.
Daya, smiling: Bade jaldi meri yaad aagayi janab ko, kahi Tarika ne dhakke maar k bahar nai nikala na tujhe?
Abhi: Nahi Salunkhe sir ne!
Daya realizes his friend isn't joking this time.
Abhi, chuckles: Mazak tha yar. Bas thak gaya hu, sone jaara hu. Tu bhi thak gaya hoga, so jaao. good night.
He hangs up quickly.
Abhi: Naa.. Daya ko call nahi karna chahiye tha..
A while later, Daya calls him back. He doesn't answer. There is a knock on the door and he sighs knowing well who it is. Daya must have sensed something is wrong with him.
He opens the door and is speechless as he comes face to face with his angel.
She looks at him her eyes, red and puffy. Look what he has done to her. Not even a week passed since he confessed and she is already in pain because of him. His heart reaches out to her as she engulfs him in a huge hug.
Tarika: I am sorry Abhi. Sab meri waja se hua. Maine hi tumhe chupne keliye kaha aur Salunkhe sir buraa maan gaye! Unko already gussa tha aur tumhe dekh k woh sab.. I am sorry..
She is crying and he feels tears flowing down his cheeks.
Abhi, wiping her tears : Shh relax. Aap ki kya Galati hai? Salunkhe sir ka gussa jayez hai. Tum unki beti jo ho. Obviously unko buraa lagega ki unki beti ne kisi.. na layak se pyar kiya.
She looks up shocked.
Tarika: Aisa mat kaho.. Kya keh rahe ho?
Abhi: wohi jo sach hai. Main koi khushi nai de paunga aapko. Khooni ko pakarna, khud ki jaan khatre main daalna.. bas yahi hai meri zindgi! Na koi chaahnewala, na daulat, na aisho aaraam. Bas auron k liye jeeta hu main.
He pulls himself out of her hug. Tarika jus stares at him her mouth hung open.
Abhi, diverting her: Tarika hum baad mein baat karein? Raat bohot hogai. Aur.. umm.. tumhe yaha nai aana chahiye. Salunkhe sir ko aur gussa dilaaogi tum? Jaao aur unki baat maano…
Tarika, shocked: Kya.. Mujhe jaane k liye keh rahe ho? Aur kuch bhi bole jaarahe ho. Tum mujhse alag hona chahte ho?
He doesn't reply. He just stares at her distraught face, fighting back his tears. Right then Daya walks in and Tarika just glares at Abhi and runs away crying.
Daya apologises to Abhi and asks as to why she is crying but he just shakes it off as petty fight. Daya knows Abhi is lying but doesn't press it.
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Abhi and Tarika do not call or message each other or let alone come face to face. If they come by chance, they don't dare to look. A week passes this way. Only they knew how much they were hurting inside. At times Salunkhe would console her.
Daya could not bear to see both of his friends hurting.
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Its lunch time, he glances into the forensic lab through the glass door. Tears form in his eyes at the sight before him. He can see Tarika alone in the lab weeping her heart out. Unable to resist anymore, he rushes in only to hear her whispering.
Kyu? Kyu Abhijeet.. Kyu mujhe avoid karre ho? Kyu chor dia mujhe.. agar jaana hi tha, toh aaye kyu meri zindgi mein? Ab main kya karun? Apne dil ko kaise samjhaun? Naa tumse dur reh sakti.. na tumhare paas…
Just a week's separation caused her so much pain. What if something happens to him and then probably she would.. He shakes off those thoughts and rushes out without talking to her.
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An hour later, Abhi decides to talk to her and clear all her misunderstandings, all for once. What if she thought he dint love her? Once again he is standing before the door leading to forensic lab, the one he used to love pushing open just to see her smile. But now.. Is he allowed inside? He meets Salunkhe sir outside the lab.
Abhi: Sir.. Kya main Dr . Tarika mil sakta hu? Sirf ek baar…
Salunkhe: Nahi. Sorry Abhijeet, woh already upset hai.. tum jaaoge toh aur upset hojayegi.
Abhi: Sir, sirf ek baar. Aap jaante hai na unhe dekhe bina mera din pura nai hota. Sirf ek baar baat karlu? Plzz..
Salunkhe: hmm.. agar itna pyar hai toh karlo shaadi Dr. Tarika se. tab toh woh tumhare saamne hogi har subah sham.. soch lo.
With that Salunkhe walks off with a smile leaving a confused Abhi behind.
Abhi is shocked. Salunkhe sir wants him to marry her? Then what was the taunting for? Right then Someone touches his shoulder from behind.
Daya: Boss.. sab tik hai na?
Abhi, managing to smile: Haan.. bilkul. Puch kyu rahe ho?
Daya: yar tujhe kya lagta hai.. tu nai bataayega toh mujhe patha nai lagega? Kya hua tere aur Tarika k beech..
Abhi, faking: Kuch nai.. Sab tik hai.
Daya: Fir kyu tum usse baat nai karre ho? Kyu Lab ki taraf nai dekh rahe ho? Kyu har waqt kaam hi kaam kar rahe ho?
Abhi: yar aisa kuch nai hai. tujhe galat femi hogai hai..
Daya: Achha ab tum jhoot bhi bolne lage ho? Yar, kaha gaye mera dost jo khilkhilaate baat karta hai? Kaha gayab hogayi uski hasi? Sach toh yeh hai Abhijeet ki dus dinon se tum Tarika ko avoid karre ho. Aur In dus dinon mein tujhe dekh k aisa lagaa jaise tune jeena chor diya hai. Main puchta hu Kyu? Kyu karre ho yeh sab?
Abhi keeps mum.
Daya: Bolo…
He explains how Salunkhe asked him to hold her hand in front of everyone.
Daya: Bas itni si baat? Pakarlo uska haat. Aur karle shaadi. Bichari Tarika aur kab tak intezar karegi? Dil ki baat kehne keliye cheh saal lag gaye tujhe.. shaadi karne mein aur kitne? Bolo..
Abhi shakes his head as Daya laughs.
Abhi: Daya.. main use shaadi karna chahta tha.
Daya: chahta tha matlub?
Abhi, feeling sad: Halat dekhi hai uski? Abhi kuch der pehle bohot ro rahi thi. Uski aakhon mein aasu, aur chehre pe udaasi ki waja main hu, sirf main. Aur mujhe khud nai patha main koi bhi rishta nibhaane ka kabil hu bhi ya nahi.
Daya, shocked: Of course ho! Abhijeet tum sirf ek acche officer hi nahi.. ek ache insaan bhi ho. Jo apne desh k liye, apnon k liye, apni jaan bhi dekh sakta hai. Aur rishte kya naye hai tere liye, yaad hai woh bacchii jise tum god lena chahte the? Kitna pyar karti thi woh tujhse, tumse yeh ummeed nai thi Abhijeet. Rishte ko nibhane se darre ho?
Abhi: Dar nahi raha Daya. Bas mujhe fikar hai Tarika ji ki. Aur unki khushi k liye mera unse dur rehna hi tik hai. Maine faisla kar lia hai. Tum thodi der mujhe akela chod do please.
Daya: mujhe jaane k .. tik hai, jaaraha hu main. Lekin jaane se pehle ek baat. Tarika k ghum ki waja tum nai ho. Tumhare uske naa hone se woh udaas hai. Aur jaha pyar hai, apnon ka saat hai waha bhala ghum aur aasu k liye jagah hai kaha? Isliye dimaag pe zor mat daal. Aur dil ki sunn.
Daya leaves and Abhi stands pondering over what just happened.
He realizes Daya was right. Love is not something which you can pick up from your heat and throw away. He also realizes his life is nothing without her. Only she is the one who can drive his gloominess away and bring cheer in his life. She's the one who makes his life complete. She might be lucky enough to find someone else if she desires. But he doubts his luck. He knew it would be selfish of him to marry her, make her life complex. Being a CID officer's wife is not a cake walk. But he chooses to be selfish because he can't think of a life without her. He vows he would do all that is needed to keep her safe n happy in his company.
He smiles knowing what exactly he should do that evening.
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Cafeteria, that evening:
Tarika reaches cafeteria after so much persuasion by Dr. Salunkhe. Her usually cheerful face looked serious. Her eyes scan the room to stop on him. Abhi knew those eyes were trying to fight back tears. He smiles a little. She gives a death glare in return and he knew what it meant.
Dus din se baat bhi nai ki. Na koi phone.. na koi SMS. Aur aaj muskuraa rahe hai!
She proceeds to leave after having her coffee quickly but he holds her hand from behind. She turns around and sees him smiling down at her. ACP Sir, Salunkhe sir, Daya, Freddy, Sachin, Rajat, Purvi everyone look at them with keen eyes. Daya smiles knowing what gonna happen.
Tarika is embarrassed as she feels everyone's eyes on dem.
Tarika: Kya Karre ho Abhijeet? Sab log dekh re hai.
Abhi: Dekhne dijiye..
Tarika: Chodo mera haat..
Abhi: Chodne keliye nahi pakda hai ji...
He gives another dazzling smile and she is sure her biggest dream is gonna come true very soon. He could feel what she is feeling. If only she knew this was his dream as well..
Who says dreams don't materialise? Keep dreaming. Keep hoping. One day dreams do come true. Oh yes, they do!
To be continued…
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A/N: Uff. Feels like a daily soap hai na? Do review.. n lemme know how u felt.
Ah cliff-hanger! But.. Well you guys can guess what's in store for you in next chap hai na? :D
I hope dis chap is not as horrible as I presume it is. Take care n thank you for reading.